Gearing for washing-machines.



gr. ROGKB. GEA RINGIOR WASHING MACHINES. V APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1913- 1095949. Patented May 19, 1914.

' than that imparted by the gearing, to permit JOHN ROGKE, OF PONTIAG, ILLINOIS.

GEARING- FOR WA$HING-MAGHINE$.

acetone.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914.

Application filed August 1, 1913. Serial No. 782,455.

To all whom, it may concern:

a Be it known that I, JoI-IN RooKn, citizen ings known as alternating rotary, whereby the agitator or dolly 1S given successive r0 tations in opposite directions. r

i The primary purpose of this invention is to provide a washing machire gearing in which the parts aresimply and compactly arranged in a frame-work and are easily and readily dismount-able without the use of particular tools or the requirement of any particular mechanical knowledge. In this connection, it is an endeavor to permit the dismounting of the parts of the gearing which may require replacement without any further removal of elements than is absolutely necessary. It is also provided that the dolly, while capable of being driven in either direction .at all times, shall also have an independent vertical. movement through its driving means, so as to be readily removable, and to also have a free action, other it'to follow the irregularities of the mass of clothes contained inthe washer. In this feature rests also one of thesteps in dis mounting the gearing, as will hereinafter appear. V K features rest in the general arrangement of the gear elements and the construction of the gears, whereby the hereinafter described compact and simple gear structure is rendered possible,

Referring to the drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, Figure l is a side elevation of the gearing and dolly adapted to be mounted on a washing machine top, Fig. 2 is a plan view in part and partly in horizontal section, of the gearing, showing-the base mounting and the gear tooth "strdcture.

Referring more particularly to said drawings,'2 indicates the top of the washing machine, which may be theswinging lidthereof. Carried by said top is a rectangular frame 3, which is preferably open at the bottom, and hasat its top the bearings 1 and 2% into which the vertical shafting of the bearing are fitted. At one side, the frame 3 is extended into an elongated sleeve member 5 into which is fitted the shaft 6 for driving the machine gearing, said shaft carrying on its inner end the bevel pinion 7 having the hub. extension 8, by means of which the pinion 7-is secured on the shaft 6, and permits the outward removal of the shaft 6 upon the disengagement of the hub 8.

The open side of the frame 3 is fitted with an interior plate or hearing device 4,, said plate or bearing 4 extending across-the inside of the upright members of said frame 3, and forming one of the distinguishing features of the gear structure, as assembled with the frame 3 and its gear elements.

Opposite the bearings let and 2d the plate t is provided with hearing openings 15 and 15 respectively and into said bearings 14 p and 15,. and 24 and 15 are seated the spindles or shafts 13 and 26. The spindle 13 is vertically removable from its bearings through the topbearing 14. The spindle or shaft 26, which carries the dolly 25 is removable from the frame and plate 4 downwardly through-the washing machine top 2. Thus each of the spindles which carry the gearing members are loosely supported in the frame, the purpose of this construction becoming hereinafter apparent.

Meshin with the bevel pinion 7 are the opposing evel gears 9 and 10, said gearsi9 and 10 being carriedon hubs 11 and 193, of

barrel construction and mounted on the spindle 13 for free and independentrotation. The upperend of the topmost hub 11. is seated in a shallow recess 14' in the lower face of the transverse stretch of the frame 3, and is held in this position by the plate oibearing member 4, when the latter is seated in between the vertical members of the frame 3. The lower end of the bottomhub 12 rests freely on the plate 4, and forms the intermediate support'for the hub 11. The outer faces of the gears 9 and 10 are provided with the segmental gear sections 16 and 17, said sectionsbeing integrally or otherwise secured to the gears 9 and. 10. The spurs and depressions 18 and 19 of the sections 16 and 17 are forn'ied of uniform height and depth at their intermediate portions, but at their ends the spurs and depressions are in creased in height and depth respectively, as at 18 and 19', as is best shown in Fig. 2.

Said gear sections 16 and 17 mesh with segmental spur gears 20 and 21 carried by a sleeve 22 and formed with teeth which correspond to the tooth formation of the gear sections 16 and 17 The lower end of the sleeve 22 is seated on a stud or collar 23, though the sleeve may rest directly on the plate 4:, and said stub or collar may form an element of the sleeve 22. The upper end of the sleeve 22' is inserted or seated in a recess 24: formed around the bearing 24, and is held seated therein by the plate 4 or by said plate and the stud 23. The hubs 11 and 12 and the sleeve -22, therefore, are locked in position by means of the plate 1 and the remo able shafts or spindles 13 and 26, and their removal from the frame 3 is readily and easily accomplished by loosening the plate 4:, after first slipping out the spindles, and transversely removing the plate, so that the hubs 11 and 12, and the sleeve 22, with their thereto secured gear members may drop out of the recesses 14: and 24'.

The sleeve 22 provided with a square axial bearing for the spindle 26, which is similarly conformed so as to rotate with the sleeve 22, and carries at its lower end the dolly 25. In this mannerthe sleeve 22 will positively drive the spindle 26, but the latter is freely movable vertically therein, so that the dolly may follow the action of the clothes in the machine at all times.

- In my experience as a manufacturer I have found that all gearing for driving the dolly of a washing machine has'been more or less defective and that the vast majority of these are expensive to construct, and it is the purpose of this invention to provide a practical and inexpensive machine, which, as hereinbefore stated, will also be of a simple and compact nature and will be comparatively simple to repair.

A frequent difficulty with washing machine gearings is the freedom with which the lubricating material for the gears passes down into the tub or receptacle. This has been due to the fact that the driving connection fwith the dolly has been permanent,

. whereas the dolly moved vertically thereto so that the oil could follow the dolly shaft down into the clothes. By making the dolly connection. a permanent one with the dolly and allowing the same to reciprocate I establish a substantial driving connection, and at the same time prevent grease from reaching the clothes. A further safeguard against the oil passing into the receptacle at all rests in the collar or stud 23, which pre- Copies of this patent may be obtained for vents the lubricant from passing to the stem being relatively positioned to engage theirspur gear mates 20 and 21 at difierent times so that as segmental gear section 17 is in engagement with spur gear 20, to turn the dolly in a given direction segment 16 will be out of engagement with its mate 21, the end of the movement of gear section 17 however bringing the second section 18 into engage ment with the gear 21 so that the movementof the dolly will be reversed.

The result of the above operation is to re- .volve the dolly alternately in opposite directions, whilethe movement of the latter is further augmented by the fact that the spindle thereof is capable of vertical movement in'the sleeve 22, so that it may follow the irregularities of the clothes mass machine.

What I claim is 1 1. In a washing machine, the combination of a frame having an open side, a plate closing the open side of said frame, gear carrying elements locked between the frame and said closing plate, spindles supporting said gear carrying elements in their locked positions, a shaft carried by one of said spindles, gears on said gear carrying elements intermeshed within said frame, and

means for driving said gears, to operate said shaft. i f I 2. In a washing machine, the combination of a frame having an open side, a support having said frame secured thereto with its open side adjacent said support, a plate filling said 0 en side and resting on said support, spin les removably supportedbetween said frame and plate, gear carryin elements carried on said spindles and locked between said plate and frame, intermeshed five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner p! Patents, Washington, D. C.

in the 1' 

